Polk Countians entering Walmart over the past few days likely encountered tents near the entrance, where a collection took place.
The goal was to help local charities provide for those in need. A trailer was filled in the four days that began Friday and ended Monday evening.
Jimmy Olson is in his 27th year with JJO Charities, which helps communities across the country. He is from Houston and lives outside of Tyler in Bullard. Polk County is of significance to the organizer, as his children attended Montessori School in Livingston.
“Mike (Fortney) over at Center of Hope and Brad (Butler) at Center of Hope and the Grace Pregnancy Outreach Center are great,” Olson said of getting the drive together. “This is a community that needs a lot of help. It is really struggling, and one in three kids will go to bed hungry tonight. That, to me, is unconscionable in this world we live in. Our kids are our future, and no child should ever go to bed hungry. That is why I do what I do. We are going to be back in the spring in April, and we are going to continue every year until I am physically unable to do it.
“We’ve got a lot of great volunteers from Center of Hope and Grace Pregnancy Center, Livingston High School, and a lot of churches came together to help provide volunteers. That is what really does this and makes it so successful. Walmart allows me to have people that are actually inside the store. They don’t let anybody else do that, but they know that this is a righteous cause, it is a great cause, and it is for a child. That is my focus. That, our veterans, and our seniors that are very prideful and don’t want people to see that they’re getting stuff. I praise everybody that helps them.”
Volunteers were posted in the store on the general merchandise and grocery sides, both from Center of Hope and Grace Pregnancy Outreach Center. As patrons entered Walmart, those who accepted were given a list of needs. They could then shop for the items that the nonprofits will later distribute to the community.
“I’m blown away at the generosity of the citizens of Livingston,” Olson said of his four days in the area. “They have just been phenomenal.”
Diapers, baby wipes, cleaning supplies, toiletries, canned goods, and other food were amongst the items collected. A large trailer provided by Crossin Moving and Storage was filled and said to be a few months of supplies. JJO Charities and all volunteers worked the four days in 12-hour shifts.
“Unfortunately, it is just a drop in the bucket,” Olson said. “When one in three children go to bed hungry, that says a lot. We are just trying to reverse that and eradicate that. I always see that those that don’t have, give the most. Those that do have, don’t give (as often), but the ones that do give, give a lot. Diapers are extremely expensive, and people can’t get that. They have to reach out to Grace Pregnancy Outreach. They have told me that this will help for months, and they will have enough to help more people.”
Livingston is a targeted area, with the hunger rate higher than the national average that Olson said is closer to one in four children not receiving enough food.
Brad Butler, who is on the board at both Center of Hope and Grace Pregnancy Outreach, said he has never seen anything like the generosity shown over the past few days.
“People are coming up here with a big shopping cart and they’ll take two things with them that they bought and give the rest to us,” Butler said. “This is a game changer for Polk County, because we are going to meet the needs of moms and their children. We are going to meet the needs of the hungry, and ultimately, this is going to change the community. It’s incredible.”
Those who missed it and wish to be part of the next charity event can do so April 17-20 of 2026. Also, donations are accepted at various times throughout the week at Grace Pregnancy Outreach and Center of Hope. They can be arranged by calling Grace Pregnancy Outreach at 936-327-8440 and Center of Hope at 936-327-7634.
